Khammam: All Dalit families in Chintakani mandal may not get the benefit of the Dalit Bandhu scheme, as a special team has imposed certain conditions to filter out many families. A pilot scheme is being run in the mandal, before its statewide roll-out.
There were stated to be 5,102 Dalit families in Chintakani mandal and the figure has come down to 4,719 after the first round of survey, sources said. The figure may fall to about 2,000 families after various filters are imposed.
As per the announcement of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, all Dalit families should get the Dalit Bandhu assistance. The government deputed a special officer in every gram panchayat to identify Dalit families.
There are 26-gram panchayats in Chintakani Mandal, and officials found there were no Dalit families in Basavapuram and one family in Raghavapuram.
The special officers are categorising Dalit families on certain parameters. The special officers first indicated that those who have crossed 60 years of age will not get the scheme. Those getting old-age pension will also not be included.
Second, families who have a house in the village, with its address in the Aadhaar card, but are residing in the village for one to two years are not being included.
Those who have settled one of the 26-gram panchayats in the mandal for the last two years and had the same addresses in their Aadhaar cards and are getting ration cards may be on the Dalit Bandhi list.
There are instances of some men belonging to other mandals and districts who have settled in villages in Chintakani mandal with their spouses after marriage. They are being considered as eligible for Dalit Bandhu.
N. Venkatesh, a native of Patharlapadu in Chintakani mandal and living in another place where he is employed, said that he did not appear to be eligible for Dalit Bandhu, going by the norms being followed by the officials.
Sources said it appeared that the government is trying to prune the list by adding various filters such as ownership of lands and pucca buildings. It is expected that the Dalit Bandhu benefit will be given to fewer than 2,000 Dalit families in the mandal.
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